Awards

Golden Ambassador Award

At the Annual Autumn Glory Kick Off Event, the Golden Ambassador is announced. The winner of this award has made major contributions to tourism in Garrett County. Only Chamber members may nominate fellow Chamber members for this prestigious title.

To nominate someone for this award, please download and complete the nomination form and mail it to Sarah Duck, Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, 15 Visitors Center Drive McHenry, MD 21541 by Friday, September 10, 2021. The winner will be announced at the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce's annual Autumn Glory Kick-Off Event on October 7, 2020.

2022 Golden Ambassador Sponsor

2020 Golden Ambassador

The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce has named Terry Helbig as the 2020 Honorary Golden Ambassador of the 53rd Annual Autumn Glory Festival. The announcement was made at the Chamber’s Virtual Autumn Glory Kick-Off Event on October 7, 2020. The Golden Ambassador sponsor is Mlend and the Platinum Sponsors of the Kick-Off Event were First United Bank & Trust and Premier Power Solutions, LLC. Patriot Automotive Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram: King of the 4WD is the title sponsor of the 53rd Annual Autumn Glory Festival.

The Golden Ambassador is awarded by the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce to a person who has contributed to and supported tourism in Garrett County. The Golden Ambassador is selected by a committee of former Golden Ambassador winners.

“On behalf of the Chamber and the tourism community, I offer sincere congratulations to Terry on being named the 2020 Honorary Golden Ambassador,” said Nicole Christian, Chamber President and CEO. “Terry is so deserving of this recognition. His passion and commitment for turning the Oakland train station into the B&O museum has created a wonderful experience for visitors and residents. He is a humble servant of this community and I am pleased that we are able to show appreciation for his tireless efforts.”

Terry was born and raised in Garrett County and learned the insurance industry from his father, James Helbig, who worked at an insurance agency in downtown Oakland. Terry founded his own insurance company, Helbig Insurance Agency, in downtown Oakland in 2006 with his late wife, Kathy. With a keen interest in local history and a desire to share that history with residents and visitors, Terry worked with the town of Oakland over the course of several years to turn the town’s 1884 railroad station into a museum. Since the creation of the Oakland B&O Museum, Terry has directed its remodeling and helped to create its exhibits. The Oakland B&O Museum and Train station now features local artifacts celebrating Garrett County’s history, hosts rotating exhibits and showcases artifacts from the B&O Museum in Baltimore. Since the museum’s opening, Terry has hosted a wide variety of groups to the museum and given tours to residents and guests. In addition to hosting visitors to the museum, Terry has also recently worked to obtain funding for the purchasing, and restoration, of a steam locomotive for display on the grounds of the Museum; that steam locomotive is now a popular addition to the B&O Train Station and Museum.

A staunch supporter of Oakland, Terry currently serves as a Board Member of the Garrett County Historical Society, where he has been an active member for over 25 years. The Historical Society Museum houses a treasure trove of exhibits related to the founding of Garrett County, the history of the area and the way of life for Garrett County citizens from years past. The Historical Society Museum features 9 rooms dedicated to Garrett County history including Arts & Recreation, Schools, Hotels, Military, Cabin, B&O Railroad, Garrett, Industrial, and Victorian. Most recently, Terry worked to obtain a state legislative grant to correct issues from the Wilson Creek Channel that runs under the Historical Society’s Museum building, ensuring this popular historical site remains open for years to come.

Terry is a current member of the Oakland-Mountain Lake Park Lions Club, where he previously served as President; a charter member of the BPO Elks and currently serves as the Chairman of the Oakland B&O Museum, the committee operating the 1884 station for Oakland. Terry has served as a council member on the Oakland Town Council since 2018, after previous stints in the 1980s and from 2006 – 2009. Terry is also a member of the newly formed Oakland Cemetery Committee with a mission to help preserve local monuments.

Past Recipients of the Golden Ambassador

2020 - Terry Helbig
2019 - Bob Boal
2018 - Steve Green
2017 - Patty Manown Mash
2016 - Nancy Railey
2015 - Mike Dreisbach & Jan Russell
2014 - Jim Johnson
2013 - Rosie Versteegen
2012 - Rob Michael
2011 - Don Sincell
2010 - Pam Trickett
2009 - Robert Rudy
2008 - Patricia Kittle
2007 - Ruth Beitzel
2006 - Judy Devlin
2005 - Bill Grant
2004 - Evelyn Heise
2003 - Jeff McCauley
2002 - Randy Rodeheaver
2001 - Jerry Geisler
2000 - Karen Myers
1999 - Elaine McDonald
1998 - Jerry Thayer
1997 - Edwin S. Walthall
1996 - Asa M. McCain, Jr.
1995 - Bill Sisler
1994 - Jonny Marple
1993 - Art Naylor
1992 - Theodore J. Lascaris
1991 - Ernest J. Gregg, Jr.
1990 - Dr. Alta E. Schrock
1989 - Helmuth M. Heise
1988 - R. Rudy, Jr.
1987 - Rev I. Lynn Beckman
1986 - R.T. Thayer
1985 - Tom Butscher

Volunteer of the Year Award

The Volunteer of the Year Award was established in 2011 and recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding service to the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce. The recipient of this award is selected by the staff of the Chamber and recognized at the Annual Dinner.

2023 Volunteer of the Year Winner

The recipient of the 2022-2023 Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year award was announced at the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Membership Meeting & Dinner, held on Thursday, June 1, 2023. This year the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce presented the award to Laura Fike, Executive Director of Garrett Mentors, Inc. Laura Fike has been a member of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for nine years. In that time Laura served on the Board’s Executive Committee as Secretary from 2016 to 2018 and participated on the Board’s Nominating Committee on numerous occasions. She also acted as the Chamber’s representative to the Maryland State Chamber of Commerce.

Laura helped launch the Chamber’s Workforce Development Taskforce, a program dedicated to analyzing and addressing local workforce needs including affordable housing and public transit. Laura served as Chair from the committee’s inception in 2018 until 2022. In this capacity, she spoke at New Student Welcome Receptions hosted by Garrett College and the Chamber and assisted with the Work Ethic Diploma program, a partnership between Garrett County Public Schools and the Chamber to address workforce challenges by creating a pipeline of prospective employees who possess quality attributes desired by employers. Laura regularly attended Chamber events during her tenure—from Business After Hours mixers to Annual Dinners and Award Ceremonies. She has been a welcoming presence to many members of the organization, new and old.

Past Recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Award

Diplomat of the Year Award

The Diplomats act as greeters at Chamber events, deliver new member packets, deliver membership directories, participate in new member orientations, attend Ribbon Cuttings/Grand Openings/Ground Breakings and present First Dollar of Profit certificates to new businesses. The Diplomat must be employed by a Chamber Member or the owner of a member business, must have been a chamber member for at least one year and employed with their business for at least  6 months. For their efforts, the Diplomats have the opportunity to compete with each other for the title of Diplomat of the Year. The Diplomat of the Year Award was established in 2015.

The Diplomat of the Year is determined through a points system given for membership packet distribution, Business After Hours Attendance, Business Before Hours Attendance, Ribbon Cuttings, Ground Breakings, Grand Opening & First Dollar of Profit Presentation Attendance, Recruiting New Members and Distribution of the Community Profile & Membership Directory.

2023 Diplomat of the Year Winner

The winner of the 2022-2023 Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Diplomat of the Year award was announced at the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Membership Meeting & Dinner, held on Thursday, June 1, 2023. This year the award was presented to Connor Norman of Norman Networking & Promotions and Garrett County Department of Business Development. As a Garrett County Diplomat, Connor made member outreach calls, attended every Diplomat committee meeting and many Business After Hours and a Business Before Hours event, helped in the distribution of both prospect and new member packets, attended all 19 ribbon cutting ceremonies, and referred 13 new members to the Chamber, achieving a new record of 657 total Diplomat points. This is Connor’s third time being awarded the Diplomat of the Year, having previously won in 2019 and 2020.

“Connor’s commitment to helping entrepreneurs succeed is evident to all who are involved with the local business community,” said Nick Sharps, Chamber Membership Development Manager. “We thank Connor for going above and beyond in service to the Chamber during this record-breaking year and we thank all of our Diplomats for their efforts.”

Past Recipients of the Diplomat of the Year Award